Phat Fat
Taking a giant toki at a new Uzbek eatery in Rego Park
By Robert Sietsema
January 22nd, 2004
Source: The Village Voice

Seeking to serve a wider constituency, the latest Uzbek places have broadened their culinary horizons, adding Russian and Middle Eastern dishes to their kosher menus, attracting Russian diners on one hand and observant Jews on the other. In addition to solid renditions of the usual Uzbek fare, newcomer Cheburechnaya offers Siberian pelmeni soup, Ukrainian-style platters of pickled fish, and from the Middle East, a hummus ($3) that is wonderfully dense and garlicky and a baba ghanoush that is too heavy on the mayo for my taste. Rather than being narrow and clubby like the older cafés, the large and well-lit space affects a cosmopolitan air with its smartly clad waitresses, gleaming metal meat cases, and an open kitchen that flaunts a mile-long trench-shaped barbecue pit. Read More...

Camera in the Kitchen: Cheburechnaya
March 21, 2006
Source: Gothamist.com

Chebureki, half-moon shaped flaky pastries stuffed with vegetables and a choice of meat, mushrooms, potatoes, or cabbage are warming, savory appetizers for the table, and though kebabs reign and the specialty of the house, pilaff (chock full of onions, peppers, garlic, and savory chunks of lamb), and a selection of fish off-set the meat-heavy focus. Cheburechnaya is BYOB, and has the relaxed atmosphere of a cafeteria, sometimes with irritatingly inattentive service, but also appropriate for large, lingering, meat-hearty parties. Read More...

We'd go back to Rego Park.
January 04, 2006
Source: Twenty Bucks A Day

Getting back into the swing of things, and trying to get back to the Sietsema list (I’ve been pretty distracted from it for a couple of months), my girlfriend and I visited Rego Park, Queens for the first time last night – our destination was Cheburechnaya, the 26th entry on that list. Frankly, I though it should have been ranked much, much higher – despite the relatively far-out location, Cheburechnaya is one of the best deals and best meals I’ve yet encountered in my quest. Read More...

User Review
By Ani V.
September 05, 2006
Source: Yelp.com

In the past fifteen years the Rego Park and Forest Hills area has had a large influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. And with them comes their wonderful dishes. Cheburechnaya a restaurant that opened after a large fire burnt down three stores prior to its existence. The food is Kosher and the meals are what you would enjoy in a Bukran Jewish home. Spicy carrot salad, large dumplings, Shishkbob's, incredible bowl shaped crackers and dips to go with it. Plus the meals are very affordable. The service is a little slow because the place is very popular but they have wacky Russian TV playing all day long to entertain you. A dining experience not to be missed.

User Review
By Gail B.
June 29, 2006
Source: Yelp.com

So I was totally smitten by the NYT article on the influence of the silk road on Bukharian Jewish cuisine and knew that i had to try this place. Cheburechnaya is truly a hidden treasure and if you feel like going on an adventure than you have to eat here. Don't be surprised if you waitress doesn't speak English, so be friendly and just start pointing to food. This is a Kosher meat restaurant and man, do they have a lot of it. The place is crowded with tables filled with grilled & ground lamb, steak, and chicken. They are rightfully famous for their chebureks, a deep-fried pie that can be made vegetarian or filled with meat.The flavors are a mix between Indian, Asian and Eastern European influences. Order tea. You'll be glad you did.

This is a financial find! You can eat until capacity and still leave with a heavy wallet.

User Review
By Adam V.
October 18, 2006
Source: Yelp.com

My grandfather LOVES this place, and therefore I LOVE this place. I usually order pelmeni soup with meat dumplings, salty / oily herring, grilled lamb chops, grilled tomatoes, and fries. While waiting for my food, I usually try to watch Russian TV on one of the fifty super thin widescreen TVs hanging from the ceiling.

The waitstaff is made up of beautiful Eastern European girls who, despite not speaking english well, still manage to joke around with my father and grandfather. Here's a typical exchange:

Waitress: Would you like something to drink? Dad: Just water. Waitress: Bottled water or "American" water?

Funny, no?

PS - I think Cheburechnaya is also BYOB